Safety appliance for flying-machines.



'1. MESSIKOMMER. SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR FLYING MACHINES. APPL ICATION FILED MAR. 16, I914.

mm w P J 11116 22,

\ 3 SHEETSSHEET 1- MESSIKOMMER.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1914.

1 1%3 @%$m Patented June 22, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. MESSIKOMMER. SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR FLYING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, I914.

L11? Patented June 22,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ran srar as" ra rnn r lorries.

racer M'ESS'IKQMMEJR, or cnrcaeo, ILLINOIS." j

Specification of Letters Patent.

- p sar'n'rir arrnraivcn m. FLYING-MACHINES.

' Paaaaitm leis.

Application filed March 16, 1914. Serial no. 824,981.

Generally-stated, the object of my inven-v tion is to provide .a novel and effective arrangement of parachutes for preventing the aeroplanes or other similar heavier-than-air flying machine from falling should the machine capsize or the power give out, and whereby the machine is, in fact, prevented from capsizing under circumstances which would ordinarily result in an accident of this kind, the object being to apply the parachutes in such manner that the machine will, if the apparatus is operated in time, be prevented from capsizing, and in a way which would serve automatically to bring the machine back to normal position should it turn over or start to fall.

It is also an object to provide certain de-- tails and features of construction and combinations tending to increasethe general efliciency and reliability of a flying machine safety appliance of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Tn'the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a top view or plan of an aeroplane equipped with a safety appliance or system of automatic parachutes embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the said flying machine and safety appliance, showing the parachutes folded into inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the horizontally folded parachutes. Fig. 4: is anend elevation of the parachute shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a group of detail parts. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parachute in folded position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the central or middle parachute, showing the same in extended or operated positlon.

As thus illustrated, the aeroplane A may be of any suitable known or approved con struction. The horizontal rods B are arranged in pairs, in the manner shown'in Fig. 1, in a horizontal plane at the top of the flying machine. The four pairs of rods.

thus provided form a cross, the arms of which are oblique to the top of the aeroplane. Parachute sections C, of cloth or other suitable material, are secured by springy wires 6 to (3011 springs b that encircle the said rods, whereby each parachute section is slidable 011 its allotted pair of rods. section is provided with ribs b which hold the cloth in extended or curved position, but permit it'to fold toward the machine in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The springs 12 tend to extend or spread the parachute sections to catch the air in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Cords or other flexible connections 6 which run over sheaves 6} at the center of the machine, and which are securedto the outer ends of the springs Z), areemployed for folding these parachute sections in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and for retaining them in this position. 5 ofany suitable character, operated by a crank 12 applied to the shaft b of the drums. A ratchet device 6 can be mounted on said shaft, or applied in any other portion of the winding drum mechanism, whereby theparachute sections are held in retracted position. By raising the handle 6 the said ratchet is released and the springs b then quickly spread the parachute sections B in the manner shown in Fig. 1,

for holding said wings in extended or horizontal position. By means of cords or other flexible connections, not shown, the sa d wings can be held in the position shown 1n vFig. 2, whereby they overlie the parachutes C to some extent, holding the same in place when folded. When the said wings are released they also, and by reason of their yielding resistance to the air, have a stabilizing effect which serves to assist in pre venting capsizing of the machine.

The top ofthe machine is also provided centrally thereof with a post or riser .E upon which is mounted a parachute F of The four cords are wound on drums Each rot

llltl the handle b is raised.

substantially umbrella. shape. This parachute has an upper ring i that slides up and down on the said riser and a lower ring I which holds the parachute in spread out or extended condition. A fixed member f on the riser is connected by cords f with the ring f whereby the parachute is held in the position shown in Fig. 7 when in use. A spring f which encircles the riser serves to automatically raise the parachute F on the riser. The cord or other flexible connection 7, attached to the top of the parachute F, serves as a means for pulling the parachute downward, this cord being also suitably connected in any desired manner with the winding drum mechanism shown in Fig. 5, whereby all five parachutes may be folded at the same time. Also, and with this arrangement, the fivejparachutes are released and spread to catch the air when Should the machine start to fall the central parachutes, or parachute sections, if promptly released, will minimize the danger and retard the fall in a. manner that will be readily understood. Also, 'and should the machine capsize, the spreading parachutes will then have a tendency to right the machine. In this way the said parachutes conplane falls.

stitute a provision for preventing accidents, and as minimizing some of the dangers which are well-known to aviation. The parachutes are not .only released very readily and quickly, but are also then automatically spread to catch. the air. 7

lVith the foregoing construction, it will be seen that the parachutes C are so mounted .and constructed that they are quite loose and adapted to bag upward and thus catch the air and break the fall when the aeroloosely mounted and expanded by the air exactly in the same manner that an ordinary parachute operates when dropped with a "section folds inward toward the vertical axis of the machine, and means for operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, each section constructed to bag'upward, said rods being arranged in pairs, and each parachute section having its i opposite. edges connected respectively with the members of a pair, which members are disposed a distance apart less than the width of the section allotte thereto. 4

2. An aeroplane provided with outwardly extending rods at the-top thereof, parachute sections disposed loosely over said rods, slidably connected thereto, whereby each These parachutes are not in the nature of planes, but to the contrary are extending rods at the top thereof, parachutescctions disposed over said rods, slidably connected thereto, whereby each section folds inward to a position above and near the center of the machine, and means for operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, said rods extending obliquely and horizontally at the top of the aeroplane. 1

4. An aeroplane provided with outwardly extending rods at the top thereof, parachute sections disposed over said rods, slidably connected thereto, whereby each section folds inward to a position above and near the center. of the machine, and means for operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, said means in eluding springs for extending the sections on the rods, and connections for pulling the outer ends of the sections toward the center of the aeroplane, said rods being arranged in pairs, and each parachute section having its opposite edges connected respectively with the members of a pair, which members are" disposed a distance apart less than the width of the section allotted thereto.

5. An aeroplane provided with outwardly extending rods at the top thereof, parachute sections disposed loosely over said rods, slidably connected thereto, whereby each section folds inward to a position above and near the center of the machine, and means for operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, each section having ribs for holding it distended upward in position to form a baggy parachute.

6. An aeroplane provided with outwardly extending rods at the top thereof, parachute sections disposed over said rods, slidably connected thereto, whereby each section folds inward, and means for operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, wings which fold over the sections, disposed at the outer ends of the aeroplane, springs for holding said wings in unfolded position, and means for holding the wings in folded position.

7. An aeroplane provided with outwardly extending rods at the top thereof, parachute connected thereto, whereby each section folds inward, and means for operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, a'riser on said aeroplane, and a parachute slidable up and down on said riser.

8. An aeroplane provided with outwardly extending rods at the top thereof, parachute sections disposed over said rods, slidably connected thereto, whereby each section folds inward, and meansfor operating the sections on the rods to spread the same to catch the air, a riser on said aeroplane, and a parachute slidable up and down on said riser, said riser having a spring for raising the parachute thereon, and means for pulling the parachute down onthe riser.

9. An aeroplane provided with a riser at the top thereof, a parachute on said riser, movable up and down thereon, means for operating said parachute, said means including a spring which is expansible upward for raising the parachute, a connection to the top of said spring for pulling the parachute down, and other parachutes extending outward from the base of said riser, said first mentioned parachute covering the area between the inner ends of said last mentioned parachutes.

10. An aeroplane comprising wings for JACOB MESSIKOWAUER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR F. DURAND. RACHEL J. RICHARDSON. 

